NPWJ regrets South African withdrawal, calls on States to protect the integrity of the International Criminal Court

Niccoló Figá-Talamanca*, Brussels - Rome, 26 October 2016

On Wednesday, 19 October 2016, South Africa notified its intention to withdraw from the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, citing its incompatibility with South Africa’s efforts to promote peace and stability on the African continent. This was preceded by an announcement by Burundi that it was withdrawing and followed not long after by a similar announcement by The Gambia. These are the first States to withdraw from the Rome Statute establishing the ICC, which was agreed upon in 1998 and entered into force in 2002.

No Peace Without Justice regrets the withdrawal from the ICC of South Africa. While the constitutionality of the instrument of withdrawal without parliamentary consent is a matter for South African courts, the executive decision to withdraw from the Rome ICC Statute sends a clear political message that - despite South African history showing that peace and justice can only be achieved with human rights for all - its current Government will not stand with victims of atrocities. Instead, it seems they would rather side with those who seek to gain or retain power by committing war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

We look forward to the day when South Africa will rejoin the community of nations that together have decided that might is not right; that impunity for crimes under international law is a threat and an affront to all of humanity, requiring a global justice response when national systems are unwilling or unable to investigate and prosecute; and that those who bear the greatest responsibility for atrocities need to account for their crimes irrespective of their official capacity or diplomatic status.

* Niccolò Figà-Talamanca is Secretary-General of No Peace Without Justice

International Day of the Girl Child: NPWJ and NRPTT call for enhanced commitment to protect girls’ rights

Alvilda Jablonko*, Brussels – Rome, 11 October 2016

On this International Day of the Girl Child, No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ) and the Nonviolent Radical Party Transnational and Transparty (NRPTT) take this opportunity to remember the too many gaps hindering – at various levels and sometimes in a brutal and cruel manner – the process towards the full protection of the human rights of children, particularly girls.

Millions of girls worldwide are still victims or at risk of violations of their human rights, as both a result and a perpetuation of gender inequality and discrimination that denies them the most basic forms of autonomy and self-determination. They are victims of sexual abuse, exploitation and so-called traditional practices such as female genital mutilation and forced marriage, and too often denied their right to health, safety and education.

On this important day when we reaffirm our commitment to stand up for the rights of girls, it is also important to note that many countries worldwide still lack appropriate and effective legislation to protect them and that, where laws have been enacted, political will to implement them effectively has not always followed. NPWJ and the NRPTT appeal to all states to turn their political commitment into concrete, efficient and coordinated policies to address the unique and most pressing challenges girls face around the world and to ensure the fulfilment of their human rights.

No Peace Without Justice marks International Day of Action for the Decriminalization of Abortion by appealing to all States to enact and enforce legislation granting access to safe and legal abortion and calling on the United Nations General Assembly to adopt a resolution recognising this day and making it official in the UN calendar.

Unsafe abortion is a major human rights issue and public health disaster. Tens of thousands of women die every year and millions face complications because of restrictive laws that force women and girls to seek unsafe abortions, while others are imprisoned for having had or having sought to have an abortion. Around the world, 40 percent of women of childbearing age live in countries where abortion is banned, restricted or not accessible.

All States must ensure that women have full and unconditional control over their reproductive and health decisions. Criminalising abortion violates the rights of women, forcing them to take unsafe, clandestine measures that endanger their health and their lives.

On Sunday 30 October 2016, as part of the XV Congress of Radicali Italiani, which took place in Rome from 29 October to 1stNovember, Emma Bonino chaired a transnational session with Italian and international guests. The session was divided into three panels, including one dedicated to the "Persecution of forgotten minorities in Syria and Iraq”, organized with the support of No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ). The panel provided an important moment of reflection and debate with experts, journalists and representatives of persecuted minorities, such as the Yazidi and the Chaldeans, who have brought their own testimony.

Participants to the debate, moderated by Niccolo Figa Talamanca, Secretary of No Peace Without Justice, included Abdulahad Astepho, representative of the Syriac Assyrian-Chaldean community, Nareen Shammo, Yazidi activist and journalist, Rami Nakhla, activist and human rights defender and head of the Syrian Project team of NPWJ, Francesca Paci, La Stampa.

No Peace Without Justice and Radio Radicale, the foremost Italian nationwide all-news radio, have an ongoing partnership to provide news and information on our activities to a broad Italian audience. This partnership features an in-depth weekly program on NPWJ’s current campaigns and activities. The program is broadcast in Italian every Wednesday evening at 23.30.

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